Killer must stay behind bars

Dellwyn James used two knives to stab his ex-girlfriend Rae Torbet to death, in March 2003, because he could not handle her rejecting him.

James, now 35, was convicted of the murder in October 2003 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Reviewing the case at London's Royal Courts of Justice, last Thursday, Mr Justice Grigson described how James harassed Ms Torbet with phone calls and text messages before killing her.

He set the minimum term he must spend behind bars at 14 years.

The judge told how James had a relationship with Ms Torbet from August 2002 until March 15 2003, which she ended.

"She was 19 years old and James could not accept that she had rejected him," said the judge.

"He told a friend he could not bear the thought of her being with anyone else."

James, who had been prescribed medication after being diagnosed as suffering from a severe depressive episode with an adjustment disorder, entered Ms Torbet's Cantelupe Road flat on March 27, 2003, and stabbed her at least 15 times using two knives.

Her body was found the next day by a colleague at the bank where she worked.

The victim's father, Detective Chief Inspector Jim Torbet, wrote to Mr Justice Grigson to assert the murder was premeditated.

He also argued that James feigned the symptoms of mental disorder, that he was violent to his pervious partner, and therefore remains dangerous, and that his daughter's killer had shown no remorse.

The judge agreed James, who claimed he was not responsible for the murder, had shown no remorse but said it was for the Parole Board to decide whether it is safe to free him once his tariff expires.

He noted that no evidence was called at the trial to prove that James' responsibility for the crime was diminished by his mental condition.

"The evidence from the family is that Rae's murder has had, and continues to have, a devastating effect upon their lives, " said Mr Justice Grigson.

Arguing for a lower tariff, James claimed the murder was not premeditated, that he was of good character and there was evidence he suffered from mental illness.

Even after his sentence expires James will only be released if he can persuade the Parole Board he poses no risk of harm to members of the public. When freed, he will remain on perpetual 'life licence,' subject to prison recall if he puts a foot wrong.